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100% Online • NYS DMV Approved
NY DMV 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Class Online
- Get Road Test Ready — Satisfies Prelicensing Requirement
- Same-Day Completion Reporting to DMV
- Finish in One Sitting or Take Breaks — Your Choice!
- Trusted by 50,000+ New Drivers
- Lowest Price Guarantee
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Approved by the NYS DMV
Defensive Drivers Institute is an official provider of the 5-Hour Prelicensing Course approved by the New York State DMV.
Engaging Course Content
Enjoy our fun course while preparing yourself to be safe on the road. Try our optional audio read-along to sit back and have the course read to you!
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Automatic completion reporting
Rest assured your course completion will be reported to the NYS DMV the very same day, allowing you to get your road test scheduled sooner!
Complete the course at your pace
Ditch the classroom hours! Finish the course at your own pace from a desktop, tablet or mobile device!.
Award winning course
Sign up today and see why over 50,000 families have trusted Defensive Drivers Institute to prepare their loved one’s to operate safely on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course?
The New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course is an purchasable online course that teaches new drivers how to drive safely and comply with the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law. If you’re seeking a New York driver license, you’re required to complete the 5-hour course online or in person from an approved provider before you schedule an appointment for your behind-the-wheel road test. You will have permanent access to your account and course content.
Who Can Take the 5-Hour Course Online?
Unsure if you’re eligible to take the course? Use our Eligibility Checker tool!
The New York Online Pre-Licensing Program is for new drivers that are age 18 and up who are seeking a New York driver license. Students must have a photo learner permit before starting the course. Your photo permit will arrive in the mail about two weeks after the NYSDMV issues your temporary permit. At this time, the NYSDMV does not allow new drivers seeking a junior driver license (Class DJ) or junior motorcycle license (Class MJ) to take the pre-licensing course online. These new drivers must complete a 5-hour classroom course.
Do I Need a Photo Learner Permit to Take the 5-Hour Course?
Yes. Before you can start your online 5-hour course, the NYSDMV requires you to prove you have a valid New York learner permit that includes your photograph. If you have a temporary learner permit with no photo, you must wait until you have a photo permit before you start your training. The NYSDMV issues temporary learner permits to drivers immediately after they pass the written permit exam at a DMV office. After you earn your temporary permit, it takes about two weeks for your photo permit to arrive in the mail.
What Topics Does the 5-Hour Course Cover?
The 5-hour course provides vital education to new drivers, including rules of the road, and more. Other course topics include:
- New York vehicle and traffic laws
- Habits and skills for safe driving
- Risks of driving under the influence
- How to drive safely on the highway
- Aggressive driving and road rage
Upon completion of the course, you’ll know more about the responsibilities of safe drivers and a wide range of factors that can affect your driving.
Do I Need to Confirm My Identity to Take the Course?
Yes. The course uses personal security questions as well as a techniques to make sure that no one except the person who registered for the course participates in the program. This identity validation feature allows you to complete your training at your own pace across multiple sessions. Due to DMV standards, you have up to three chances to pass each security checkpoint. If you fail a checkpoint, you will be locked out of the course and will need to re-register. If this occurs, please contact our office.
About Security Questions
At the beginning of the course, you will be required to answer a series of multiple-choice security questions. These personal questions will be used to verify your identity throughout your training. For each security checkpoint, one of the questions you previously answered will appear on your screen. You will have 45 seconds to select the correct answer and confirm your identity. If you fail three consecutive attempts to answer a security question, you will be locked out of the course and required to re-register.
Does the 5-Hour Course Have a Final Exam?
The New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course includes nine quizzes, but it does not have a final exam. Each of the nine learning modules ends in a brief quiz, and you’re required to score 70% or higher to continue to the next section. You have up to three attempts to pass each quiz. If you do not pass a quiz after three attempts, you will be locked out of the course and required to re-register.
Does this Course Provide a Certificate of Completion?
No, graduates of the online 5-hour pre-licensing course do not need to provide a certificate of completion to the NYSDMV. After you successfully pass the course, we will email you a confirmation of your course completion and automatically submit your completion information to the NYSDMV. It may take up to 24 to 48 hours for your course completion to be posted on your driver record. You must take the road test for your first driver license within one year of completing the course. You will not need to provide an original Pre-Licensing Course Certificate (MV-278) when you arrive at a NYSDMV test location to take your road test. However, students who complete the 5-hour pre-licensing course in the classroom are required to present this document before their road test.
How Long Does It Take to Complete the Pre-Licensing Course?
The New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course takes at least five hours to complete. It includes nine learning modules and at least 270 minutes of instruction, not including quizzes. You can complete the timed course modules at your own pace and take multiple breaks.
How Long Do I Have to Complete the Course?
Due to NYS DMV regulations, you must complete the New York 5-Hour Online Pre-Licensing Course within 30 calendar days of registering for the course.
How Long Do I Have to Take My Road Test After Completing the Course?
You have up to one year to take your driver license road test after completing the 5-Hour Pre-Licensing course. If you do not take your road test before the one-year cutoff, you must re-register for the pre-licensing course and take it again.
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